The Sinai Peninsula has always been
Egyptian territory.
""For Pharaoh will say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering
aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut
them in.'" Exodus 14:3

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When was Israel "out of
Egypt"?
Only when they crossing the
Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran!
The modern Sinai Peninsula has always
been controlled by Egypt as far east as the Wadi el-Arish.
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Introduction:
- The Sinai Peninsula is called "The
Wilderness of Egypt" The Bible says that there was a long journey
through the wilderness BEFORE they reached
the Red Sea. (Ezekiel 20:36; Judges 11:16; Exodus 13:18). In 50 AD, Philo
of Alexandria understood this and wrote: "a long and desolate
journey through the wilderness, destitute of any beaten road, at last
arrived at the sea which is called the Red Sea". There is no
wilderness west of the bitter lakes or north west of the Gulf of Aqaba, so
they must be rejected.
- Even Pharaoh knew they were still "in the land of
Egypt" at the shores of the Straits of Tiran: "For Pharaoh will
say of the sons of Israel, 'They are wandering aimlessly in the land; the wilderness has shut them
in." Exodus 14:3
- The modern Sinai Peninsula has an unfortunate name. It is
called Sinai because in 325 AD, Constantine's mother, Queen Helena saw in
a night vision that Mt. Sinai was at Mt. Musa. She built St. Catherine's
Monastery and this has been the almost universal choice for Mt. Sinai ever
since. Apart of the fact that it is almost impossible for Mt. Musa to be
the real Mt. Sinai, we still need to understand that what is called the
Sinai Peninsula today, has been Egyptian controlled territory from the
time of Abraham in 2000 BC down to the time of Jesus.
- The border of Egypt has really not changed in 4000 years,
being the wadi-El-Arish or the River of Egypt. The modern Sinai Peninsula
has always been under Egypt's control, except for the brief time after
Rome annexed it in 106 AD and called it Arabia.
- See study of Timna.
"Although there is sufficient evidence in Egyptian sources for
Ramesside (1250 BC) military campaigns in the Negev, Edom and the Arabah,
the Hathor Temple of Timna provides the first
archaeological evidence for actual and lengthy Egyptian control of this
area." (Timna,
Beno Rothenberg, 1969 AD) .
- Some vainly attempt to refute the fact that Israel crossed
the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran, by misusing these Bible verses:
"I brought your fathers out of Egypt,
and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers with chariots and
horsemen to the Red Sea. " Joshua 24:6 and "And on that same day [the day the left Goshen] the Lord brought the sons of Israel out of the land of
Egypt by their hosts." Exodus 12:51. The argument goes like
this: Exodus 12:51 says that Israel was "out of Egypt" the
moment they left Goshen. Therefore the Sinai Peninsula cannot be part of
the land of Egypt. Further, Joshua 24:6 says that Israel was "out of
the land of Egypt" when they stood at the shores of the Red Sea.
Therefore they were out of Egypt the entire time they were at Mt. Musa
(modern Mt. Sinai) which is in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula.
- These sloppy Bible students have chosen either the Bitter
lakes or the north end of the Gulf of Suez as the crossing of the Red Sea.
For them it is critical that the Sinai Peninsula, NOT be under Egyptian
control. How else could they keep their Mt. Sinai at St. Catherine's
Monastery in the middle of the Sinai Peninsula? So they blindly ignore the
fact that the entire "Sinai" was part of the land of Egypt at
the time of the Exodus in 1446 BC.
- But by engaging in sloppy and incomplete "Bible proof
texting" many passages like, Psalm 106:7-8 are never considered:
"Our fathers in Egypt did not
understand Your wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses,
But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea.
Nevertheless He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make
His power known."
- So Ps 106:7-8 clearly says that Israel was still in Egypt
while they stood on the shores of the Red Sea, just before they crossed
it. We have done a thorough examination of all the Bible passages on this
subject and have concluded that Exodus 12:51 and Joshua 24:6 do not prove
the Sinai was not part of Egypt. By saying they left Egypt in these
verses, they are speaking about the moment they began the journey to leave
Egypt. They stood at their front doors and started walking. In their mind
they had left Egypt, even though they were not out of the city limits yet.
This is all these verses are saying and we should not force an entire
theology out of them.
- But for those misguided advocates of a Sinai Peninsula
outside the control of Egypt, you need only ask them who controlled the
"Sinai". Ask them to name the country or King who controlled the
Sinai at the time of the Exodus. Their answer, if they can even think of
one, is "I don't know" or "no one" or "it was a
barren waste land nobody wanted" or "it was a caravan crossroads
between nations" or "it is kind of like asking who owns the
Atlantic Ocean: everyone and no one at the same time. The Sinai Peninsula
was a kind of "desert ocean" no one controlled.". The most
misguided will suggest the Sinai Peninsula was part of Arabia in 1446 BC.
(The Roman Annexed the "Sinai" in 106 AD... 60 years after Gal
4:25 was written. "Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia "
Galatians 4:25) Yet all these are wrong. Egypt controlled the Sinai and
only the ill informed would think otherwise.
- For those who hold to theories proposing that historical
Mt. Sinai lay on the "Sinai" peninsula, it is mandatory that
some military power other than Egypt, or no one in particular, control the
Sinai during the Exodus. The Sinai was not a "desert ocean, caravan
crossroads, no man's land". The Sinai Peninsula was not some fuzzy
waste land that nobody wanted or controlled. Rather it was firmly under
the absolute military control of Egypt from the time of Abraham down to
106 AD.
A. Wadi el-Arish is the border of Egypt:
History and the Bible both prove that the wadi el-Arish was the border of
Egypt:
- at the time of the exodus in 1446 BC.
- at the time of the kings 1000 - 500 BC.
- at the time of Eusebius 325 AD.
- at the time of the Madaba map in 600 AD.
- and of course today.
B. Phrase study: "out of Egypt"
- Exactly what were the geographic boundaries of Egypt in
the time of the Exodus? When did Israel escape from Egypt? In the end, all
the discussion about Egyptian territory in 1446 BC is unimportant. As we
will see, a detailed study on the phrase "out of Egypt" is no
help in determining the actual territory of that the Pharaoh controlled
and what he considered within his power and domain.
- From a strictly language point of view, they were already
out of Egypt while sleeping in Goshen before they left (Gen 50:7-8; Ex
9:25-26). They were already "out of Egypt" the first night they
slept, 25 miles from Goshen. (Ex 12:51; 13:3; Deut 16:6) This of course,
doesn't make any sense for those who press for the Bitter Lakes or the
Gulf of Suez, since both of these areas are still clearly within Egypt in
every sense. The Bitter Lakes are only 25 miles from Goshen and the Suez
was only 60 miles. There was also a major Egyptian shipping port 5 miles
from the proposed crossing point at the north tip of the Gulf of Suez. No
one would rationally suggest that this was "out of Egypt". So it
is clear, that from a civil point of view, they had "left
Egypt", their civil residences, the moment they started walking.
Understanding this, it is easy to understand this language while they
stood on the shores of the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran with the
Egyptian army 1/4 mile away: "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to
die in the wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?" Exodus 14:11. Ya!
They sure were out of Egypt by the Red Sea... with the entire army of
Egypt ready to kill them. Not until they crossed were they physically out
of Egypt's reach.
- But we believe that the most important moment they were
free from Egyptian control is at the crossing of the Red sea. Arguing over
Egyptian Territory in 1446 BC is irrelevant considering the fact that even
the Straits of Tiran at the Gulf of Aqaba was within striking distance for
Pharaoh. Egypt had a migdol "military watchtower" permanently
manned with lookouts at the three way intersection of waterways at the
Straits of Tiran. While Pharaoh's lookouts watched, Israel marched past
"Midgol" to Etham, only to be boxed in and turn back again and
camp right in front of the military watchtower (the migdol). Word was sent
to Pharaoh by messenger pigeon that Israel was shut into the wilderness
and they were trapped by the mountains and the sea. Pharaoh sent his army
to their watery destruction while Israel escaped to the shores of the
wilderness of Shur near Midian and on to Mt. Sinai 20 days later.
C. Phrase study: "land of Egypt"
- The term "land" designates the local town where
they slept at night in their own houses: Gen 50:7-8 "So Joseph went
up to bury his father, and with him went up all the servants of Pharaoh,
the elders of his household and all the elders of the land of Egypt, and all the household of Joseph
and his brothers and his father's household; they left only their little
ones and their flocks and their herds in the land
of Goshen. " ; Exodus 9:25-26 "The hail struck all that
was in the field through all the land of Egypt,
both man and beast; the hail also struck every plant of the field and
shattered every tree of the field. Only in the land
of Goshen, where the sons of Israel were, there was no
hail."
- "So the Lord shifted the wind to a very strong
west wind which took up the locusts and drove them into the Red Sea [Gulf of Aqaba] not one locust was left in all the
territory of Egypt. " Exodus 10:19
- Quite often in the Bible the expression "land
of" denotes local towns within the same country: The "land of
Goshen" and "land of Egypt" are both within the Country of
Egypt and under Pharaoh's control: Gen 50:7-8; Ex 9:25-26, Num 32:1. In
these three verses "land of" denotes local "states or
provinces" within the country of Egypt. Today we would say, "He
left the land of Tennessee to live in the land of New York.
- In the same way we notice that the land of Goshen was a
city suburb within the country of Egypt. The Hebrews and Egyptians were
living in two distinct city areas yet both were called "lands".
The Land (local district) of Goshen was within the Land (Country) of
Egypt. But the term "land of Egypt" also denotes the local city
suburbs where the Hebrews did not live, as opposed to the land of Goshen.
So the terms here are used to designate local tribal type boundaries not
distinct countries.
- This verse shows that three days in the wilderness was not
within the land of Egypt. But even here "out of Egypt" means,
away from the visual presence of the Egyptians when they do their
sacrificing. "Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron and said, "Go, sacrifice to your God within the land." But
Moses said, "It is not right to do so,
for we will sacrifice to the Lord our God what is an abomination to the
Egyptians. If we sacrifice what is an abomination to the Egyptians before
their eyes, will they not then stone us? "We
must go a three days' journey into the wilderness and sacrifice to
the Lord our God as He commands us." Pharaoh said, "I will let you go, that you may sacrifice to the Lord
your God in the wilderness; only you shall not go very far away.
Make supplication for me." " Exodus 8:25-28
- "'I brought your fathers out
of Egypt, and you came to the sea; and Egypt pursued your fathers
with chariots and horsemen to the Red Sea. " Joshua 24:6
- "And on that same day [the
day the left Goshen] the Lord brought the sons of
Israel out of the land of Egypt by their hosts." Exodus 12:51
- "but at the place where the Lord your God chooses to
establish His name, you shall sacrifice the Passover in the evening at
sunset, at the time [the day the left
Goshen] that you came out of Egypt. "
Deuteronomy 16:6
- "Moses said to the people, "Remember this day [the day the left Goshen] in which you went out from Egypt, from the house
of slavery; for by a powerful hand the Lord brought you out from this
place. And nothing leavened shall be eaten. " Exodus 13:3
- "You shall tell your son on that day, saying, 'It is
because of what the Lord did for me when I came
out of Egypt.' "And it shall serve as a sign to you on your
hand, and as a reminder on your forehead, that the law of the Lord may be
in your mouth; for with a powerful hand the Lord
brought you out of Egypt. " Exodus 13:8-9
- "They baked the dough which they had brought out of
Egypt into cakes of unleavened bread. For it had not become leavened,
since they were driven out of Egypt and
could not delay, nor had they prepared any provisions for themselves.
" Exodus 12:39
- At the shores of the Red Sea the people cried: "Then
they said to Moses, "Is it because there were no graves in Egypt that you have taken us away to die in the
wilderness? Why have you dealt with us in this way, bringing us out of Egypt?" Exodus 14:11. This
verse is used by some to say they were still in Egypt at the Red Sea. In
fact the Psalmist clearly tells us that they were still in Egypt: "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your
wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless
He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power
known. " Psalm 106:7-8. Exodus 14:11 is simply saying that they had
left the city where they lived in comfort and are in a desolate part of
that same country. Just another example of the same phraseology that they
left Egypt the moment they were outside the city limits of Goshen.
- "'You shall also observe the Feast of Unleavened
Bread, for on this very day [the day they
left Goshen] I brought your hosts out of the land
of Egypt; therefore you shall observe this day throughout your
generations as a permanent ordinance. " Exodus 12:17
D. Bitter lakes and Port of Suez crossing
controlled by Egypt and cannot be the Red Sea crossing point.
- The Bitter Lake's were so close to Goshen (30 km) that it
was likely the Hebrew's fishing hole on their days off. A huge fresh water
lake like the Bitter lake, would surely be controlled by Egypt on all
sides. The shallow bitter lakes are the choice of Bible skeptics who
attempt to explain the crossing of the Red Sea without any miracles.
pharaoh
- The North Suez crossing is equally unlikely since the
Hebrews would not waste any time rejoicing on the far side, they would
keep running at full speed. After all they were only 10 km away from one
of Egypt's largest shipping terminals and only 100 km from Goshen. You
would not rejoice, you would run!
- To the average Hebrew, freedom from Egypt only came when
they crossed the Straits of Tiran and entered modern Saudi Arabia which
was the only crossing point that provided geographic security from
Pharaoh.
- When you see how close the Bitter lakes and North Suez
crossing are to Egypt, then consider they controlled mines all the way to
Timna north east of Elat, it becomes silly to think that Israel was out of
Egypt's control after crossing at the Bitter lakes or port of Suez.
- The crossing point of the Red Sea was the Straits of
Tiran.
Conclusion:
- The Sinai Peninsula has been under the military control of
Egypt from the time of Abraham 2000 BC, the Exodus 1446 BC right down to
the time Rome Annexed it in 106 AD.
- The phrase, "out of Egypt" is used both at the
city limits of Goshen and at the shores of the Red Sea, yet both were
within the military control of Egypt. Land of Egypt is distinguished from
the land of Goshen, yet both are inside of Egypt proper.
- The Bible clearly says that Israel was still in Egypt when
they rebelled on the shores of the Red Sea at the Straits of Tiran. "Our fathers in Egypt did not understand Your
wonders; They did not remember Your abundant kindnesses, But rebelled by the sea, at the Red Sea. Nevertheless
He saved them for the sake of His name, That He might make His power
known. " Psalm 106:7-8
- Since the Sinai Peninsula is "in Egypt" only a
crossing at the Straits of Tiran would truly complete the exodus from
Egypt. The idea of a Red Sea crossing at the Bitter lakes or the North end
of the Gulf of Suez is 100 km from the throne of the Pharaoh.
- A Mt. Sinai located at Mt. Musa where St. Catherine's
Monastery was built in 527 AD, becomes equally impossible. Mt. Sinai is in
north Saudi Arabia at Mt. Lawz.

By Steve Rudd: Contact the author for comments, input or
corrections.

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